Apparatus for producing fixed combustible gas



July 14, 1936. w. B. WINGERT APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIXED COMBUSTIBLEGAS Filed July 50, 1931 Patented July 14, 1936 UNIT-ED STATES PATENT-OFFICE APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING FIXED COMBUSTIBLE GAS Application July30, 1931, Serial No. 553,942

4 Claims.

This invention pertains to apparatus for the production of nely divideddispersed particles of liquid in suspension in a gaseous media and moreparticularly for the production of a subs tantiaily xed combustible gascontaining finely divided liquid particles of the character of fog insuspension therein. The gas containing the fog particles is xed in thesense that it is relative stable, i. e. while some of the fog particlesseparate out on the walls of the long distribution mains in the passageof the gas containing the fog particles therethrough a considerableportion of the fog particles initially introduced into the gas stream'is carried in suspension therein throughout the ow of the gas throughthe mains. The term fog is intended to include finely divided liquidparticles of the iineness of condensed water-vapor suspended in theatmosphere at or near the earths surface as frequently encounteredparticularly in the neighborhood of large bodies of water and asdistinguished from Water-vapor as such and larger particles of liquidwhich do not remain in suspension in a gaseous medium for a considerableperiod of time.

One object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for introducingoil, tetralin, water, odoriZi-ng liquid such as ethyl mercaptan, etc.,into a: stream of combustible gas such as water gas, both carburettedand uncarburetted, coke oven gas or natural gas. Other objects of thisinvention Willbeapparent'from the following description thereof.

TheV preferred embodiment of this invention involvesv a container havinga gas inlet in onev end wall and agas outlet in the opposite end Wall. Apartition is disposed at the base of the container from side toisidethereof. This partition extends only a relatively short distance fromthe base so asto; provide a substantially unobstructed space atthe topof the container. The container is divided into two compartments by thispartitition;` one associated with the gas inlet and the other with thegas outlet. A fioat valve-controlled conduit is disposed in the'compartment 45'* ass-ociated `with the gas inlet to maintain asubrI'he-other compartment has positioned therein aL-weirdisposedparallel to and spaced from the partition' defining an end wallof the compartment. An adjustable needle-valve is provided (Cl. mil-92)in the partition to regulate the ow of liquid from the compartment intowhich the liquid is initially introduced to the Weir. The needle valvepermits only a regulated steady ilow of liquid to the Weir and thereoverinto the other compartment where a substantially constant level ofliquid is maintained. A rapidly rotating roll is journalled in thesecond compartment with its axis substantially parallel to the body ofliquid therebeneath and its surface in tangential contact with this bodyof liquid. The body of liquid is maintained at a substantially constantlevelbeneath the rotating roll by regulating the flow through the needlevalve to correspond with the amount of liquid fog taken up by the gas.Due to the needle Valve which permits a steady uniform iiow to the weir,surges of liquid over the Weir with consequent fluctuations in theliquid level beneath the roll are avoided.

A baflle plate is disposed near the top of the compartment into whichliquid is initially introduced and is arranged to discharge large liquidparticles formed by the rotating roll into this compartment. Hence, iffor any reason the level of the body of liquid should rise so that thesurface of the rotating roll is partially immersed, large liquidparticles formed by the rotating roll would be deected into the othercompartment and thus the level of liquid beneath the roll would berestored to the proper minimum point.

Bale plates are associated with the gas outlet to remove any liquidparticles of a size greater than fog particles. These baiiie platesconserve the liquid and since they remove ,the large liquid particlesthey prevent subsequent condensation thereofin the gas mains. The gasleaving the apparatus is a substantially fixed gas since it contains fogparticles in suspension therein, the particles of a size larger than foghaving been removed therefrom.

In the drawing which shows for the purpose of eXemplii-lcation thepreferredform of fogging apparatus to which the invention herein is notcominci- Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of an installation embodyingthis invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section partly in elevation of the foggingapparatus taken in a plane passing through line 2--2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3- is an end elevation of the apparatus of Fig-.72, and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section through a compartment of thefogging apparatus showing the float controlled valve supplying liquid tothis compartment.

In the drawing with particular reference to Fig. 2, the foggingapparatus comprises a container dened by end Walls l2, I3, side wallsI4, and base |5. A cover member I6 adapted to be readily removed fromthe container allows access to the interior thereof. A gas inlet isprovided in end wall I2 for gas entering the container and a gas outletI8 is formed in wall I3 for the exit of gas containing fog in suspensiontherein from the container. A clean-out plug 20 is provided at the baseof end wall |2.

A partition 2| extends from side to side of container and is welded orotherwise secured to base I5 and sides |4 to form compartments 22 and23. Partition 2| preferably shaped as shown in Fig. 2 extends only arelatively short distance above the base leaving the top portion of thecontainer unobstructed. Compartment 22 receives liquid initially fed tothe container. For this purpose valve-controlled pipe 24 leads from tank25 or other source of supply of liquid into compartment 22. Pipe 24 isprovided with a valve port 23 the flow through which is governed byvalve stem 2l operatively connected to a float lever 28 carrying at oneend iloat 3| and having the other end suitably pivoted in compartment22. Float 3|, valve 23 and valve stem 2l are adjusted to maintain alevel of liquid in compartment 22 within relatively narrow limits. Ifthe level drops oat 3| descends to increase the extent of opening ofvalve 23 and consequently increase the amount of liquid fed into thecompartment to restore the level of liquid to the desired normal point.Conversely, if the level of liquid in compartment 22 rises valve 26 isclosed to reduce the flow of liquid thereinto and restore the level ofliquid therein.

A weir 32 is welded or otherwise secured to base I5 in the compartment23. The top of Weir 32 may be serrated to cause even flow of liquidthereover. The flow of liquid to the weir is controlled by needle valvestern 33 disposed within a valve port or orice 34 in partition 2|.Needle valve stem 33 extends through suitable packing gland 35 in endwall I2 and is provided with a hand wheel 36. By turning hand wheel 36the conical end of valve stem 33 is adjusted with respect to the orifice34 in partition 2|.

The construction of needle valve and weir hereinabove described causes asmooth even flow of liquid in compartment 22 to the weir 32 andthereover onto a body of liquid 3l maintained under rapidly rotatingroll 38 hereinafter more fully described. Surges of liquid flowingthrough main 24 into compartment 22 are confined to compartment 22 andare not communicated to the weir 32 since the needle valve 33 permitsonly a smooth uniform flow of liquid to take place therethrough. Hencethe level of the body of liquid 3l is maintained at a substantiallyconstant level beneath the rapidly rotating roll 38.

Roll 38 is rotatably journaled in compartment 23 with its axis parallelto and its surface substantially tangential to the body of liquid justtouching the liquid as shown in Fig. 2. The roll may be in the form of asmooth or perforated cylinder, a wire screen or a plurality oi spaceddiscs and is rapidly rotated by electric motor 39 indicateddiagrammatically in Fig. l. Needle valve 33 is adjusted so that theliquid fed to weir 32 and thereover corresponds to the amount fogged andconsequently the level of liquid beneath the roll remains constant.

A baffle plate 4| extending from side to side in container is welded orotherwise secured to the sides. This baiiie plate is disposed topartially cover gas inlet Il and is arranged as indicated in Fig. 2. Itthus prevents the entrance of liquid particles into the gas conduitleading into container I I. Ii for any reason the level of the body 5 ofliquid 3l rises so that roll 38 becomes partially immersed, the liquidparticles of substantial size which will then be formed will be thrownonto baiile 4| which in turn discharges the liquid particles intocompartment 22. Thus the level of 10 liquid beneath the roll 33 isrestored such that the roll siuface just contacts therewith and a fog ofliquid above the roll is produced.

Baiiie plates 42 arranged in staggered formation are suitably mounted infront of the gas outlet 15 I8, so that the mixture of gas and fogparticles leaving the container contact and pass over the baffles. Thesebaiiles remove any liquid particles of a size greater than fog carriedby the gas leaving the fog particles in suspension therein. 20 Hence thegas removed from the container contains only fog particles in suspensionand is a substantially fixed gas.

In Fig. 1 there is shown the application of the gas fogging apparatus todistributor main 43. 25 Main 43 is provided with an orice plate 44 andby-pass mains 45 and 46 disposed on opposite sides of the orifice plate.By-pass 45 and 46 are connected to the gas inlet and gas outlet |8respectively. The amount of gas conducted through the by-pass pipes intoand through the fcgging apparatus is controlled by suitable hand valves4l and 48 in pipes 45 and 46 respectively.

A delinite proportion of the gas flowing through main 43 passes throughthe orice plate 44, the 5 remainder of the gas passing through by-pass45 into and through container or box wherein it contacts with the fogcreated by the rapidly rotating roll 38, the resultant xed gascontaining the fog in suspension passing' through by- 40 pass 46 intothe main distributor pipe 43 where it becomes intimately admixed withthe gas flowing through the orifice plate 44 and main 43. Due to therelative positions of orifice plate 44 and by-pass 46, a Zone of reducedpressure is 45 formed by the stream of gas issuing at high velocityadjacent the point where by-pass pipe 46 joins main 43. The reducedpressure assists in drawing the gas having the fog in suspension thereinfrom the fogging apparatus into the main 50 conduit 43 and theturbulence associated with the jet of gas issuing from the orificecauses thorough and intimate mixture of the gas containing the fog insuspension with the gas flowing through orice plate 44 and main 43 tothe 55- left of the orice viewing Fig. 1.

It will be noted that in accordance with this invention combustible gasmay be effectively and thoroughly fogged with oil, tetralin or otherliquid, the fog formed by the rotating roll extending 60 across the fullcross-section of the container through which the stream of gas passesand resulting in the production of a substantially xed gas containingthe fog in suspension.

The invention is herein disclosed as embodied in a particular form ofconstruction but it is to be understood that it may be variouslyembodied within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for producing a substantially xed gas containing fogparticles in suspension comprising a container having a gas inlet and agas outlet, a partition dividing said container into two compartments,means for introducing liquid to be fogged into one of said compartments,a Weir disposed in the other of said cornpartments spaced from saidpartition, a needle valve controlling a. port in said partition forregulating the flow of liquid from said compartment into which theliquid is introduced to said weir, said weir being arranged to providesubstantially constant ilow of liquid in the other of said compartmentson the side of the weir remote from said partition, and a roll rotatablymounted in said other compartment with its axis substantially parallelto the upper surface of the body of liquid and its surface substantiallytangential to said body of liquid.

2. Apparatus for producing a liquid fog comprising a container, apartition dividing said container into two compartments, means forintroducing liquid to be fogged into one of said compartments, a weirdisposed in said other compartment spaced from said partition, means forproviding a controlled ilow of liquid from said compartment into whichliquid to be foggedis introduced to said weir, said Weir maintaining asubstantially constant level of liquid in the compartment in which it ispositioned, a roll rotatably mounted in said other compartment with itsaxis substantially parallel to the upper surface of the body of liquidand its surface substantially tangential to said body of liquid, andmeans for rotating said roll to create liquid fog particles.

3. Apparatus for producing a gas containing fog particles in suspensiontherein, comprising a container having a gas inlet in the neighborhoodof the top of one end Wall and a gas outlet in the neighborhood of thetop of the opposite end wall, a partition extending across the base ofsaid container from side to side thereof dividing it into twocompartments one having a gas inlet leading thereinto and the otherhaving a gas outlet leading therefrom, the partition extending only partway up from the base of said container so that the upper portion thereofis unobstructed, a float-controlled valve for maintaining asubstantially constant level of liquid in said compartment having thegas inlet leading thereinto, a weir in the other of said compartmentsspaced from said partition, a needle-valve controlling an oriice in saidpartition, said needle-valve governing the flow of liquid through saidpartition to said Weir, said Weir maintaining a substantially constantlevel of liquid in said other compartment, a roll rotatably mounted insaid other compartment with its axis substantially parallel to the uppersurface of the body of liquid and its surface substantially tangentialto said body of liquid, and means for rotating said roll to createliquid fog particles.

4. Apparatus for producing a substantially fixed gas containing fogparticles in suspension` therein comprising a container having a gasinlet and a gas outlet, a partition dividing said container into twocompartments, means for introducing liquid to be fogged into one of saidcompartments, a weir disposed in the other of said compartments spacedfrom said partition, a needle Valve controlling an orice in saidpartition regulating the flow of liquid from said compartment into whichliquid is introduced to said Weir, said weir being arranged to provide asubstantially constant level of liquid in the other of said compartmentson the side of said weir remote from said partition, a roll rotatablymounted in said other compartment with its axis substantially parallelto the upper surface of the body of liquid and its surface substantiallytangential to said body of liquid, means for rotating said roll tocreate liquid fog particles, a baille plate below said gas inletarranged to discharge liquid particles formed by said roll into saidcompartment into which liquid to be fogged is introduced, and a baiiledisposed over said gas outlet to remove liquid particles from the gasfogmixture of a size greater than the fog particles.

WILLIAM B. WINGERT.

